Senior author Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the hospital, and colleagues publish their findings in the journal Pediatrics.

Since their introduction into supermarkets in the US in 2010, laundry detergent pods have grown in popularity. Convenience is the main appeal of these products; instead of having to measure out laundry powder, a user can simply pop a pre-measured detergent pod straight into the washing machine.